Taliban carry out dozens of attacks on Afghan troops after ceasefire

The Taliban carried out a dozen attacks on the Afghan security services on Monday, just after the partial ceasefire that had begun on 22 February. That reports a source within the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

In 13 of the 34 Afghan provinces, the government troops were attacked by the Taliban. Four were injured there, according to the Ministry of Defense. Moments later, the government also reported two deaths in an attack in the southern province of Kandahar, and four soldiers were also killed in another region, Lowgar.

Reduction of violence

Violence had declined sharply last week following a ceasefire agreed nine days ago in the run-up to the signing of a historic peace agreement with the United States on Saturday. However, on Monday, the Taliban had announced that they had put an end to the truce. Zabihullah Mujahid, the rebel spokesman, then said the offensive against the Afghan troops was resumed, but not against foreign forces.

The Taliban must now also start negotiating with the Afghan government. However, disagreement about the release of prisoners is a stumbling block. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani refuses to release 5,000 Taliban, although the insurgents had agreed with the US.